Ramadan Prayers Interrupted As Gunman Invade Mosque

Scores at an East London Mosque had to run for safety as a masked gunman gained access to the mosque premises and opened fire.

Naija News understands that the attack was carried out at the time the Muslims were gathered for Ramadan prayers in the mosque premises.

Shots were heard by Muslims at the Seven Kings Mosque in Ilford for evening prayer late on Thursday, May 9.

According to Scotland Yard, early investigations suggested that a “blank firing handgun” had been discharged.

While describing the shooting, Ibraheem Hussain, 19, who was at the mosque at the time of the shooting said; “There’s three sections of the mosque and at taraweeh (evening prayers) during this time of Ramadan the mosque is packed out. We were upstairs in the classrooms and about 30 minutes into the night prayer a large noise went off.

“I just continued my prayer, it sounded like a firework or maybe something heavy had been dropped, so no-one really thought anything of it. After we finished we were leaving the shoe area and someone said it was a gunshot, someone had come into the mosque and he had a firearm on him. The managers had seen him, he was masked and acting suspicious and the firearm was let off.”

While urging the people to speculate on the gunman’s motive, the mosque’s imam, Mufti Suhail said; “There was a firearm incident outside Seven Kings Mosque tonight during Ramadan night prayers. The suspect ran from the scene when stopped by brothers standing guard at the mosque. A shot was fired which fortunately did not hit anyone.”

Ilford North’s Wes Streeting who is apparently displeased with the attack, while speaking on the incident via a tweet said he was contacting the Police to commence investigations on the matter.

“I am aware of the reports of a man with a firearm at Seven Kings Mosque during prayers tonight and am relieved that no one appears to have been hurt or injured. Thank you to @MPSRedbridge for a swift response,” he tweeted.